Chilean timing

I am not doing a very good job at this blogging thing. However, I like to consider my tardiness evidence that I am blending well with Chilean culture. I have derived a term, that I was probably not the first to derive...and that is "Chilean timing." Where "now" or "today" might mean "tomorrow" or "never." Chileans, and especially ariqueños are very laid back in comparison to Americans. There have been several times where I have been trying to express myself, searching for a word, meanwhile getting progressively louder and more concerned until the person I am talking to says "tranquila, tranquila!," which is pretty much like "calm down and think about what you are saying you crazy overstressed gringa!" Life here can be very difficult with our three hour break from school for lunch and a nap, pity me much?



As previously said, all of last week was orientation, which was spent in a hotel. Orientation was really just a lot of protocol and seminars. All of it was of course important and well worth my outrageous tuition, but all that I would like to report is that I saw a mountain that was completely white, solely because of "guano de aves." Bird poop. Amazing.



The group also visited "El Morro," the plateau-like hill that can be seen from about anywhere in the city. On top of El Morro is a big statue of Jesus with one hand pointed towards Peru and the other pointed towards Chile, symbolizing peace between Peru and Chile after the War of the Pacific, in which Arica was taken from Peru. There still exists some tension between the two concerning who Arica rightfully belongs to, but Rosanna, our program coordinator claims that if you look closely at the statue, the middle finger of the hand pointing at Peru is a little longer than the hand pointing towards Chile. Tranquila Peruanos, its just a chiste!! (First person to spot the irony in this picture gets a high five!)

I am very determined to learn the Chilean national dance, the Cueca, so I ask about everyone I meet if they can teach me. One of my first victims was one of the program coordinators Leonardo. Leo was happy to show me the ropes, and all the rest of the group, as we were all together waiting to leave on an excursion. So the dance is very flirtatious and at one point, the man is supposed to kneel and the woman puts her foot on his knee. When Leo was showing me this part, he said something really quickly in Spanish...probably "and now you put your foot on my knee..." but my interpretation was, "...and now you sit on my knee." I could feel myself looking a little hesitant, but without thinking much, I headed for the knee thinking it was just part of the dance and Leo says "no, no, no! el pie! (the foot)!" Awkwarrrd.

Last Saturday I moved in with my family!!! You can call me Jennifer Moscópulos Tapía for now :) I live on a nice street near the University of Tarapacá I have three sisters, two of which are away at school in Viña del Mar and one that lives at home. My parents are Miguel and Elsa and my dog is a cocker spaniel named Yuyin (named after Eugene from "Hey Arnold"). I also have a super sweet grandmother who lives with us and is an amazing cook. I am already preparing myself to be slightly plumper when I return to the U.S., but only as evidence that "abuelita" took good care of me. My family owns an olive farm in Azapa Valley, which explains the gigantic bottomless jar of olives in the kitchen, and also a shoe repair shop. Below is the only picture of all of us I have...although terrible, it will have to suffice for now, sorry Madre.

Arica is a small city, almost like my hometown Morganton (shout out, sort of). There are ~180,000 inhabitants, so it quickly becomes a small world where everyone is related somehow...and thus, it just so happens that one of the other girls from my program, Jordan, is my niece!!!! Isn't that just adorable?! Te quiero mi sobrinaaaa!! (Below: my niece Jordan and nephew Ignacio)

Really terrible embarrassing misuses of Spanish seem to be a motif in my life lately. While shopping for a sweater made from alpaca fur in the market, I really needed to check myself out, so I asked the lady "tiene espalda?" She looked pretty puzzled and then laughed and said "espejo?" I asked that adorable lady if she had a "back" instead of a "mirror." GRINGA ALERT My abuelita told me that I talk just like a baby, I guess that means I'm improving?

One thing I find particularly hilarious is the plethora of fanny packs here (called "bananos" here). Although one might think that this fine piece of fashion is only reserved for the 50+ crowd, I'll have you know that every young person in Chile owns a fanny pack and wears it proudly, including myself.
Below you will find me making my parents proud as I bring the Jersey Shore fist pump to Chile while wearing a fanny pack.

I like to take pictures of the food that I eat here. Just for reference, I really like food...and I get fed a lot. Feel free to laugh and point as I appear progressively plumper in upcoming pictures. Below is a giant steak, chorizo, a potato salad, and avocado salad.